Yeah - what Andi said!! :-) I honestly didn't think I was ready to do W3, but I told myself there was no point in not trying...and I made it through! :-) I even kept up my 10 min/mile pace on the second running interval.

:woops::running::woops::running:

Thanks ladies, for this thread and being such an inspiration!

I finished week2 today and will start week 3 on Wednesday!! I ate oatmeal right before running and had major cramps (you know when your lung feels like it is stuck in your rib cage??) soo, no more eating before running!

woohoo....I finally started the C25K on Saturday!!!!
It kicked my butt...but it was worth it!
Now that the sidewalks are clear again, and the weather isn't dipping much below -2, I can get out and tackle this challenge.
I used to jog about 3km and walk 2km....but that was before Christmas, and this is the perfect program for me to get back into jogging shape!!

Hi all! OK, so I thought I'd come in for a dose of accountability. I didn't get my ipod replaced, and I've let myself get off track... I know that TONS of people have done this without the podcasts, but I've just totally copped out without 'em.

So, I will (hopefully) make today W2D5. I am NOT giving up!

quick question.....what is the 'podcast'?? And...how do I get it if I need it??

W2D1 today!

I wore a different pair of socks than usual and I had to keep stopping during my walking breaks to adjust them :p so it was sort of a pain... but overall I was excited to be on to the second week.

I don't have much time to write so I'll just say a big "Way to go!" to everyone who has posted the last few days. :)

W3D2... wow. I'm not going to say it was easy...I think I just doubt myself but I CAN do it, and I DID do it (and of course, will continue to do it) :D

If you use an iPod while running, you might want to look into it. Podcasts can be found in iTunes... they're free (I think they're all free) downloadable content made by users. Someone decided to make a podcast that could be used during the C25K workouts... it tells you when to walk and run so you don't have to time it yourself. It includes music, too.. I only listened to a little bit of weeks 1 & 2, but it was all upbeat, dance-ish music.

I've always done it without the podcast... half of the time, I don't listen to music at all, just enjoy the sounds of the outdoors. :) And this particular podcast doesn't do you any good if you don't listen to it while running... but if you've never downloaded iTunes and checked out podcasts, I recommend it. You can learn a foreign language, catch up on current events or celebrity gossip, listen to new comedians, whatever you're into. (Even if you don't have an iPod, you can listen on your computer.)

Whew, W4D2 already. OK, I think I'm pushing my limits now - the last five minute run was super hard, and I think I only got through it by making up "motivational" lyrics to that rather stupid music on the podcast: "I am strong, I can do it, not giving up, yadda yadda yadda, ow this hurts, one more minute..." :dizzy: :D

W3D1 done, I did it!! It wasn't that bad!

Hi again! So yesterday was W2D5! And it felt great! Soooo much better than the earlier W2s. So, I'd like to ask y'all a question: should I stick with W2 one more time, or do you think I can move on to W3? I feel ready, but I'm wondering if its a good idea after having taken several days off. Thoughts?

TIA!

Hello, I am new to this. Last night I started C25k, I started on W3D1. I have incorporated light jogging into part of my hit or miss exercise regime over the last few months. I found W3 fairly easy but W4 looked very hard so I don’t want to jump straight into that one. I am planning to do it again tonight!

ok so after being horrendously sick and stuffy A few days off turned into a week. every time I would try to run, I would cough, choke, and almost throw up. But I am back. not because I am feeling better, but because I just can't wait around anymore. ;-) Two days ago I started back in on a week one workout, and today I did the week 2 workout. I will do at least one more w2 workout before I move on.

I am still undecided on the podcasts. I like the idea, because sometimes my mind wanders and I lose track of when to run, but I also like my music. The just techno beats, is a little strange to me. do you get use to it? and has anyone had success with getting the mp3 version downloaded?

ok, run on ladies!

~betsy:carrot:

W3D3 today. Whoohoo!! The first 90/90 interval was a breeze. I was thinking...wait...wait...wait...I'm running (10 min/mi is close enough to running for me) and it's not making me feel like I'm dying. The first 3/3, also, not so bad. I had to push the last 20 seconds, but the rest wasn't bad. The remaining intervals were harder, but I didn't feel like I was going to DIE. If you'd asked me 3 weeks ago to run anywhere, for ANY length of time I would have laughed in your face. Three minutes may seem like such a small feat to some but to me it's huge. I can't wait to add more to it. :D On to W4 Monday!!

Way to go Berner! And everyone else too!

I jumped into W3 today, and it totally didn't suck! Just like you guys said. Actually, it kinda felt easy (?!?!), but then I remembered I'm several thousand feet closer to sealevel today, and maybe that's why? Anyway, glad I went for it. Can't wait to do it again Sunday.

Betsy - my thoughts on the podcasts: I like them for me. I normally run outside and don't wear a watch (um, I actually don't own a watch), so timing intervals is a challenge. But today I ran on the hotel treadmill, and I kinda tuned out the podcasts a little, and went more from the clock. I guess if I was a regular treadmill runner I might not bother. I actually enjoy the music and prompts outside though. Each week is a bit different, and yeah, week 1 was a bit techno for me, too. But frankly, I'm just so grateful that someone else put them together its all good. I do have an ipod, so I've never tried any other format.

How's everyone else doing?

W4D3 today - I think I'll do at least one more W4 run. It was still very, very hard - although maybe it was just due to the overall pretty crappy day that I had? Right now, I can't really imagine starting week 5 on Monday...

EDIT: Oh, and on the topic of the podcast - I really don't like this type of music very much, but it does keep me going, and the prompts are just so convenient. It also makes me feel more like I'm on a "program", if that makes sense... I have to say, though: week 4 has the weirdest music yet - some really trippy, and then there's an accordion (?!) piece thrown in...

After missing 3 days :( I finally got back out there! W2D2.

For maybe the first time, I think I wore the perfect amount of clothing, haha. Some parts were too warm, some were too cold, but on average I was comfortable. Tomorrow it will be 45 degrees F, I might have to go for a walk to take advantage of the "warm" weather.

I have been sicker than a dog.
Hoping to get back on track tomorrow with week 7

So I've done 2 full weeks of Week 1, and today I decided to have a go at Week 2. Concluded, though, that I'm really not loving Week 2 just yet - think I might even give myself another 2 weeks of Week 1, because what I DON'T want to do is get all defeated and give up - if it takes very gradual increments to improve my fitness, then I'd rather do it that way. (And, let's face it, I'm hella fat right now! It's like jogging with 100lb of weights strapped to my various limbs!)

I'm intrigued by this podcast business, and am trying to download Week 1 - thank you for clueing me into its existence!

AND I have decided to check out the various marathons/10k runs etc that are planned for Asia, and set my sights on one in maybe a year's time as a tangible goal to work towards. (Might even have a go at the Phuket race in the summer, since there's a 5k walk section - that might be more realistic for the short term, with a view to doing something more challenging later?)

....er, does this sound insanely optimistic? Given that I am to running what the Pope is to heavyweight boxing?

broadabraod- that is a great idea, I am thinking of signing up for a 5K in October, it will be the week before my wedding.

W3D2 just done! Again, I'm lovin this sea-level high! Hahaha. I decided to really push myself today, since its been easier at this altitude, so I actually did one of my runs at 10 mph - I'm normally a turtle...

Fay - WTG! I'm a repeater myself, so I think its great you are giving yourself time to adjust. I would say, though, that my W2D1 was HORRIBLE, but W2 got majorly better each time. Good luck.

Woot Mayness! Way to get back in there!

So I am in love with high-end treadmills, like the one in this hotel. Holy cow they run smooth! Just think, in 2 days its back to the concrete for me!

Good work all!

W4D1 today. Oh. My. Gosh. I wasn't sure I would make it through the last 5 minute running interval...but I didn't let myself quit - and I did it!!! Yay!! I have a feeling W4 will be more than just the three sessions for me...we'll see how the rest of the week goes!

Hi guys,
I started today, JUST in time to post in the March thread lol...

I found w1d1 embarrassingly hard, and had to walk for part of the last running interval, but I'm proud that I actually got my butt out the door and did it, especially since my exercise buddy flaked out at the last moment which is usually my cue to go back to bed. :) I plan to try day 2 on Wednesday.

At this point even week 2 and 3 look veeeery daunting, but I just read through this whole thread and it's so good to know people are doing it!! Congratulations on making it through a whole month!!

Ooh, well that's good to know! Thank you for mentioning it! I managed most of it, but eventually I thought "...no, really, this is not fun" and cut back to just walking briskly. Hmm. Perhaps I'll have another crack at it, though...we'll see.

Out of interest - what speeds are people walking/jogging at? I started out thinking that 8k was a reasonable jogging speed, and then decided that 8.5 was probably better. Only then it struck me that for my final week to REALLY be 5k, I'd have to be jogging for 30 mins at a speed of 10k, so I've been trying to jog at at least 9k.

Which was maybe a bit of a shock to the system, you know? ;)

Meanwhile I'm walking at 5.5k.

Bianca - bloody well done you, getting your *** out the door! Honestly, I think that's more than half the battle - I always pretty much think that just by virtue of having GONE to the gym, I get ten brownie points, regardless of how great or crap I may be at using the equipment!

W2D3!

It was sort of fun... it was harder than last time, physically, and my legs feel TIRED now. But it was 55 degrees F outside, which was gorgeous! Since it was so warm, people thought it would be a great idea to let their dogs out in their front yards, with or without tying them up. :eek: :mad: At least this time I didn't have to hide behind a bush, or ring a stranger's doorbell, prepared to beg them to save me.* I'm not sure what's wrong with people around here. Most of them have fenced-in back yards!!!

I'm mentally ready for week 3. And I think my legs are ready, too.

*Yes, both of those happened to me last year. The strangers weren't home, but their neighbor came outside, whistled to get the dogs attention, and jumped in his van. That dog looked angry.

Fay -

You know, I had the same thought about the speed thing, that at the pace I go my 5K wont be a 5K... But instead of running faster (I tried, it hurt, I went back to turtle pace) I figured that after I completed the last week I could do the whole thing over, but instead of walk/run intervals do slow run/faster run intervals to get my speed up. The fact that we are learning to run is awesome! We can be gentle with ourselves, and be ok with being pokey runners for a while, IMHO.

Good luck!

So Bianca mentioned an April thread - what are your thoughts gals? Should we move into a new thread or just keep plugging in this one? I am ok either way.

Hey gals, it's been awhile since I've posted in here, but I am still keeping up with C25K! I have completed W3D3! I plan to do this interval probably for another week, for sure 2 more times at least. My 5k is May 17th, I hope and pray that I am ready by then! My friend that will be running with me has done quite a few 5k's already and she usually jogs it at 5mph pace. I'm down with that! I usually do the walking intervals at 3.7 mph and the jogging intervals at 4.8-5.2 mph.

As far as moving to an April board, I'm up for whatever.

Hey gals,

re: new thread - that might encourage more people to join in? I'm all for it!

I also decided to stick with week 4 for a while - did W4D4 yesterday and will do at least one more. It was a bit easier than last Friday, but maybe mostly because my last run was fueled by anger at the guy who managed to unplug my treadmill just when I started accelerating and nearly sent me flying over the rails :dizzy:

I started a new "starters/in-processors" thread...hope that's OK!

OMG, I would be so mad at that guy, too - not to mention that I probably WOULD have gone flying. I'm just *that* graceful.

W4 is kicking my butt thus far!